he'll try to convince the american people the best way to avoid the fiscal cliff is to extend the bush era tax cuts for the middle class. >> it's too important for washington to screw this up. >> reporter: president obama is putting pressure on congressional republicans and he's enlisting middle class americans in getting the gop to take action on taxes. >> when the american people speak loudly enough, lo and behold congress listens. >> reporter: tomorrow he'll host a campaign style event where he calls on lawmakers to extend the tax rates on families making less than $250,000 a year. once that's done they can work on other details such as spending cuts and changes to the tax code, medicare and medicaid. >> he's out there campaigning for his position. i get it. we understand it. at the end of the day he has to lead on this issue. >> reporter: some republican lawmakers have said they are willing to compromise on the tax issue. oklahoma representative tom cole said the gop should sign off on the middle class extension. but house speaker john boehner isn't ready to budge yet. >> it will h